Twin-axis and head for sports equipment

ABSTRACT

This disclosed subject matter provides twin-axis sports equipment wherein a structure connecting a main shaft and a striking portion comprises two axes. The sports equipment can be a golf club, a hockey stick, an ice hockey stick, a tennis racket, a badminton racket, or the like. The striking portion can be configured as the striking portion of a golf club driver, wood, iron or putter, and can include a golf club driver, wood, iron, or putter having a punched hole or a dimple. A void can be formed in the striking portion, from a toe side and a heel side of the striking portion, which further connects with a main shaft.

This application is a Divisional of and claims the priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. §120 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/327,219, filed on Dec. 3, 2008, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference. This application also claims the priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 of Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-312356, filed on Dec. 3, 2007, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The disclosed subject matter relates to various sports equipment, such as a golf club driver, wood, iron, and putter, hockey and ice hockey sticks, a tennis racket, a badminton racket, and the like, and particularly relates to twin-axis sports equipment and heads for these types of sports equipment.

2. Description of the Related Art

In the past, various types of sports equipment have comprised many aspects that depend on the skill of the user. For example, particularly for a beginner, etc., the swing of a golf club and the transfer of the moment of force are difficult, resulting in the golf ball or the like never being struck with exact directionality and speed.

This is also related to the so-called third law of sports (the law of action-reaction), i.e., the rule of thumb that force is the result of interaction, and the forces experienced by two colliding objects are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction. For example, when the swing of a golf club and the transfer of moment of force are less than ideal, the struck ball flies in a direction other than that intended by the user.

A conventional golf club, as shown in FIG. 5 (which shows a so-called wood club), comprises a head portion 2, a shaft portion 3, and a grip portion 4. The head portion 2 comprises a toe portion 5, a heel portion 6, a neck portion 7, and a face portion 8.

As described above, with a conventional golf club, it is difficult to control the directionality of the golf ball when striking the ball, and particularly difficult to control a rightward slice, thereby hindering the improvement of the golf play of a beginner, etc.

In various sports, in general, torque—which is the moment of force around a rotation axis—becomes an issue when rotating an object around a fixed rotation axis. Even with the swing of a golf club, for example, it is desirable to increase this torque.

In Japanese Patent Application No. JP-A 1998-201884 a golf putter is disclosed wherein the shaft 2 of the head upper portion comprises two axes. When the shaft is designed with two axes, the putter head 4 is provided with two support points so as to balance the force across the entire head, thereby improving swing balance, significantly widening the sweet spot (core) of the face 5, and reducing the weight of the club. In other words, the two axes make it possible to accurately strike the ball without difficulty and enable many and varied club designs.

Nevertheless, the disclosure of JP-A 1998-201884 is limited to a golf putter and cannot be used with golf clubs in general or with various sports equipment as is the case with the disclosed subject matter, and its configuration is limited to an even arrangement of the two axes on the upper surface of the putter.

Additionally, certain golf journals or dictionaries disclose various topics from basic golf knowledge to club specifications, the club center of gravity, the club shaft, the club loft and face angle, club weight, and the like. Nevertheless, these descriptions are based on existing golf clubs and are not provided to solve the aforementioned problems or address the same concerns as does the disclosed subject matter.

SUMMARY

Conventional sports equipment, such as golf clubs, for example, are provided with a distance (approximately 4 cm in the case of a golf club) between the club head center of gravity that strikes the golf ball and the shaft, resulting in an impact in the range of tons on a section not in line with this axis. As a result, the club head rotates and, at the moment of impact of the club, stick, or racket on the ball, puck, shuttlecock, or the like, the head unavoidably bends rightward due to the great force, sometimes causing the struck ball, such as the golf ball, to curve, i.e., slice.

The reason the golf club bends, as described above, is believed to be that the shaft and the center of gravity that strikes the ball are not in alignment. This has lead to the emergence of golf clubs and the like designed to decrease the curve of the ball by changing the position of the shaft and creating inventive head shapes based on various conventional initiatives.

Based on the above-described points, the disclosed subject matter provides various sports equipment that can be configured to be capable of supporting the face section of a club head, etc., that contacts a ball with two axes. Alternatively, the various sports equipment can include a punched hole or dimple in the club head (in the case of a golf club). The disclosed subject matter can include sports equipment configured to reduce the operating torque, i.e., preventing a reduction in the moment of force, on the shaft of the club, stick, racket, or the like of the various sports equipment, and eliminating the loss of force caused by the rotation of the head of the club, stick, racket, or the like, making it possible for even a beginner to appropriately and accurately transfer force to the ball.

The above-described features, according to the disclosed subject matter, can be achieved, for example, by twin-axis sports equipment wherein an axis connecting a main shaft and a striking portion on the head comprises two axes.

In the disclosed subject matter, because the axis connecting the main shaft and the striking portion comprises two axes, the moment of force at the time the ball or the like is struck can be more properly or appropriately executed, thereby reducing the curve of the ball that results when the force is shifted rightward.

Further, the twin-axis sports equipment of the disclosed subject matter can be embodied in a golf club, a hockey stick, an ice hockey stick, a tennis racket, a badminton racket, or the like.

In the disclosed subject matter, because the clubs, sticks, and rackets are limited to specific sports equipment, the above-described effect is more clearly defined.

Further, the disclosed subject matter can include a twin-axis golf club including a striking portion configured as a striking portion of a golf club driver, wood, iron, or putter. In the disclosed subject matter, because the striking portion is specified to be the striking portion of a golf club driver, wood, iron, or putter, the above-described effect is more clearly defined.

The golf club can also be configured as a golf club driver, wood, iron, or putter having a punched hole or a dimple. In this case, the golf club driver, wood, iron, or putter having a punched hole or a dimple can exhibit the same or similar operation and effect as the above-described twin-axis club.

Further, the twin-axis golf club of the disclosed subject matter can include an auxiliary shaft axis wherein one end is joined within the half closer to the striking portion of the main shaft axis connected to a heel side of the striking portion, and the other end is joined with an opposite face portion of the striking portion. In this case, because the twin-axis golf club comprises an auxiliary shaft axis having one end joined within the half closer to the striking portion of the main shaft axis connected to a heel side of the striking portion, and having the other end joined with an opposite face portion of the striking portion, the same or similar operation and effect as the twin-axis club can be achieved.

Further, the disclosed subject matter can be configured as a golf club wherein a bridge portion is installed upright from a toe side and a heel side of a striking portion, with a section from the heel side connecting to a main shaft axis, and a void portion formed by the bridge portion and the striking portion upper surface. In this case, because the bridge portion is installed upright from the toe side and the heel side of the striking portion, and it further connects with the main shaft axis, and forms a void portion with the striking portion, the same or similar operation and effect as the twin-axis club can be achieved.

The disclosed subject matter, as described above, can include sports equipment configured to support the face section of a club head, etc., that strikes a ball with two axes and/or provides, in the case of a golf club, a punched hole or dimple in the head of the golf club, etc., thereby reducing the torque, i.e., preventing reduction in the moment of force, on the shaft of the club, stick, racket, or the like, and eliminating the loss of force caused by the rotation of the head of the club, stick, racket, or the like, making it possible for even a beginner to appropriately and accurately transfer force to the ball, puck, shuttlecock, etc.

Further, as described above, certain embodiments of the disclosed subject matter make it possible to increase the torque, which is the moment of force around the rotation axis of the club etc., during the swing of the club, for example, so as to eliminate the loss of force caused by the rotation of the head of the club or the like, thereby increasing the force on the struck ball, puck, shuttlecock, etc., and in golf, for example, increasing the so-called flying distance.

Further, the disclosed subject matter, as described above, can include a configuration that significantly increases and makes appropriate the inertia moment on the head portion striking point of the golf club, etc., making it possible to suppress the occurrence of defects such as the twisting of the shaft that occurs when the ball is struck.

In this manner, a golf club or the like can be capable of properly and accurately striking a ball, etc., based on a simple configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a general plan view showing the configuration of an embodiment of a golf club made in accordance with principles of the disclosed subject matter.

FIG. 2 is a general plan view showing the configuration of another embodiment of a golf club made in accordance with principles of the disclosed subject matter.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line X-X of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an overall explanatory plan view showing the configuration of another embodiment of a golf club made in accordance with principles of the disclosed subject matter.

FIG. 5 is an overall explanatory view showing the configuration of conventional golf club.

FIG. 6 is a general plan view showing the configuration of an embodiment of a golf club made in accordance with principles of the disclosed subject matter.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

10, 20, 30 golf club

11, 21, 31 golf club (wood)

12, 22, 32 face portion

12′, 22′ opposite face portion

13, 23, 33 striking portion

14, 24, 34 shaft

15, 25 auxiliary shaft

16, 26, 36 main shaft

17, 27 grip

38 void portion

X shaft joining portion

Y shaft joining portion (striking portion central portion)

S punched hole or dimple

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The following describes exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter in detail with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 and FIG. 6.

While the embodiments described below are specific examples of the disclosed subject matter and therefore are provided with various technical features, it should be noted that the scope of the disclosed subject matter is not limited to these embodiments.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an embodiment of a golf club made in accordance with principles of the presently disclosed subject matter.

In FIG. 1, a golf club 10 is a golf club wood 11 comprising a striking portion 13 that includes a face 12, a shaft axis 14 and an auxiliary shaft axis 15 that connect this striking portion 13, a main shaft axis 16, a grip 17, and a shaft axis joining portion X.

The shaft axis 14 is connected to the face 12 of the striking portion 13 at one end, and continuously connected to the main shaft axis 16 on the other end. The auxiliary shaft axis 15 is connected to an opposite face portion 12′ of the striking portion 13 on one end, and connected at X to the main shaft axis 16 on the other end.

The golf club 10 of this embodiment of the disclosed subject matter is configured as described above and shown in the figures, making it possible to appropriately transfer force applied by a user from the grip 17 through the main shaft axis 16, through the shaft axis 14, through the auxiliary shaft axis 15, and to the striking portion 13, in the end causing the struck ball to be appropriately and accurately projected with great force from the face 12.

As described above, with the center of gravity of the golf club positioned between the two axes, the bending of the head, at the very least, no longer occurs to the extent it had to when the ball is struck between the two axes, thereby reducing the curve of the ball as well.

For example, while the head of a conventional golf club bends significantly outward when the ball is released near the toe (near the side edge away from the user of the golf club), the axis on the toe side of a golf club with two axes configured as in the disclosed subject matter invites an opposite force, thereby correcting and setting straight the bend of the head.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show the configuration of another embodiment of a golf club according to the disclosed subject matter.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a golf club head having a punched hole or a dimple according to the disclosed subject matter, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line X-X in FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, a golf club 20 is a golf club wood 21 comprising a striking portion 23 that includes a face 22, a shaft axis 24 connected to the striking portion 23, a main shaft axis 26, a grip 27, a punched hole or a dimple S, and a shaft axis joining portion Y.

The shaft axis 24 is connected to a substantially central portion Y of the striking portion 23 on one end, and continuously connected to the main shaft axis 26 on the other end. The punched hole or dimple S is formed in the substantially central portion of the striking portion 23, but is designed so that a sufficient thickness of the face 22 of the striking portion 23 of the golf club (in this case, the wood 21) remains.

The golf club 20 according to this embodiment of the disclosed subject matter is configured as described above, making it possible to evenly transfer the force applied by the user from the grip 27 through the main shaft axis 26, through the shaft axis 24, about the punched hole or dimple S, and to the faces 22 and 22′, thereby causing that force to be appropriately transferred to the striking portion 23 and, in the end, to the ball to be struck in an appropriate and accurate fashion from the face 22 and with great force.

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of another embodiment of a golf club according to the disclosed subject matter.

FIG. 4 is an overall explanatory perspective view showing the head of the golf club according to an aspect of the disclosed subject matter. In FIG. 4, a golf club 30 is a golf club wood 31 comprising a striking portion 33 that includes a face 32, a shaft axis 34 that connects the striking portion 33, a main shaft axis 36, a grip (not shown), and a void portion 38 surrounded and formed by the shaft axis 34 and the striking portion 33.

The shaft axis 34 is connected to the substantially central portion of one side of the striking portion 33 on one end, and continuously connected to the main shaft axis 36 on the other end. The void portion 38 is positioned in the substantially central portion of the striking portion 33 and on the side of the face 32, and is formed so as to be surrounded by the shaft axis 34 and the striking portion 33 as described above. That is, the shaft axis 34 is formed like a bridge to the striking portion 33, forming the void portion 38.

The golf club 30 according to this embodiment of the disclosed subject matter can be configured as described above, making it possible to evenly transfer the force applied by the user from the grip through the main shaft axis 36, through the bridge-like shaft axis 34, and to the striking portion 33 and the face 32 in an appropriate manner, causing the ball to be appropriately and accurately struck with great force.

As described above, in this embodiment, in place of the twin-axis golf club, the head portion 33 of the golf club is provided with the void portion 38, which is positioned in the substantially central portion of the striking portion 33 and on the side of the face 32 and formed so as to be surrounded by the shaft axis 34 and the striking portion 33 as described above, thereby eliminating, at the least, the bend of the head that can occur in conventional devices when the ball is struck in an area other than the end of the head 33, and reducing the curve of the ball.

For example, while the head of a conventional golf club significantly bends outward when the ball is contacted and released near the toe, in the case of the present embodiment of the disclosed subject matter, the axis on the toe side invites an opposite force owing to the establishment of the void portion 38 in the head portion 33 of the golf club, thereby correcting and setting straight the bend of the head.

FIG. 6 shows yet another embodiment of a golf club made in accordance with principles of the disclosed subject matter. In this embodiment, a golf club 20 can include a striking portion 23 that includes a face 22 and an opposing surface 22′. A main shaft 24 can extend from the striking portion 23 to the grip 27 and can include an auxiliary shaft 25 extending at an acute angle from the main shaft 25 to the opposing surface 22′ that is directly opposed to the striking face 22 of the striking portion 23. A through hole S can be located in the striking portion 23 and extend therethrough. The cross-section taken at line X-X of FIG. 6 and shown in FIG. 3 shows one specific configuration for the through hole S.

The above-referenced changes made to a golf club according to the disclosed subject matter can be within the scope of existing golf regulations, and the shaft can form a line pointing to the heel portion or pointing to a point to the left or right of the heel portion when the club is viewed from above in the so-called address position. That is, the shaft can be clearly installed on the line of the heel portion of the golf club.

In some cases, a golf club made in accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter can fall outside the scope of the above-described golf regulations. In this case, the golf club can be used for private games or practice.

The twin-axis sports equipment 10 according to the disclosed subject matter has been mainly described in terms of a golf club above, but the disclosed subject matter is not limited thereto. The disclosed subject matter may be widely applied to sports equipment used in games that employ a ball, puck, shuttlecock, or the like and require such a ball, etc., to be accurately struck, such as sports equipment used in, for example, hockey, ice hockey, tennis, badminton, and the like.

The golf club 20 having a punched hole or dimple on the golf club head according to the disclosed subject matter has been mainly described in terms of a golf club above, but the disclosed subject matter is not limited thereto. The disclosed subject matter may be widely applied to sports equipment used in games that employ a ball, puck, shuttlecock, or the like and require such a ball, etc., to be accurately struck, such as sports equipment used in, for example, hockey, ice hockey, tennis, badminton, and the like.

In this manner, according to the disclosed subject matter, it is possible to provide a golf club or other sports equipment capable of simply correcting and setting straight the bend of the club or curve of a struck ball or object based on a simple configuration, and which configuration can increase the flying distance of the struck ball or object.

While there has been described what are at present considered to be exemplary embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made thereto, and it is intended that the appended claims cover such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. All conventional art references describe above and any English abstracts associated therewith are hereby incorporated in their entireties by reference. 

1. A golf club, wherein said striking portion is at least one of a golf club driver, a golf club wood, a golf club iron, and a golf club putter, and the striking portion includes one of a cave, a hole, and a dimple.
 2. The golf club of claim 1, further comprising: a main shaft having a main longitudinal axis and being connected to the striking portion; and a second shaft connected to the striking portion and having a second longitudinal axis separate from the main longitudinal axis.
 3. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the striking portion having a heel portion, a striking face, and a surface opposed to the striking face; a main shaft having a main longitudinal axis and being connected to the striking portion; an auxiliary shaft having an auxiliary longitudinal axis, wherein one end of the auxiliary shaft is connected to the main shaft, and an opposite end of the auxiliary shaft is connected to the surface opposed to the striking face.
 4. The golf club of claim 1, further comprising: a main shaft having a main shaft longitudinal axis, wherein the striking portion is connected to the main shaft and includes a striking face having a toe side and an opposed heel side; and a bridge portion configured in an upright fashion and including a toe portion formed from the toe side of the striking portion and a heel portion formed from the heel side of said striking portion, the heel portion from said heel side connects to the main shaft, and a void is formed by said bridge portion and an upper surface of said striking portion.
 5. The golf club according to claim 2, wherein said main longitudinal axis forms an angle between 0 and 90 degrees with the second longitudinal axis.
 6. The golf club according to claim 2, wherein the striking portion includes a striking face having a toe side and an opposed heel side and the striking portion includes an opposing side directly opposed to the striking face, and the main shaft is connected to the heel side of the striking face, and the second shaft is connected to the opposing side directly opposed to the striking face.
 7. The golf club according to claim 6, wherein the striking face is substantially parallel with the main longitudinal axis, and the striking face forms an acute angle with respect to the second longitudinal axis.
 8. The golf club according to claim 2, wherein the striking portion includes a striking face having a toe side and an opposed heel side and the striking portion includes an opposing side directly opposed to the striking face, and the main shaft is connected to the heel side of the striking face, and the second shaft is connected to the toe side of the striking face to form a bridge portion.
 9. The golf club according to claim 2, wherein the striking portion includes a striking face having a toe side and an opposed heel side and the striking portion includes an opposing side directly opposed to the striking face, the striking portion further including a hole extending therethrough and located between the striking face and the opposing side.
 10. The golf club according to claim 9, wherein the hole has a central axis extending therethrough that is substantially parallel with the striking face of the striking portion.
 11. The golf club according to claim 2, wherein the main shaft, the second shaft, and a top surface of the striking portion define a void.
 12. The golf club according to claim 11, wherein the striking portion includes a striking face having a toe side and an opposed heel side and the striking portion includes an opposing side directly opposed to the striking face, and the void is a through hole that has a central axis extending therethrough that is substantially perpendicular to the main longitudinal axis.
 13. The golf club according to claim 2, wherein the main shaft has a first end connected to the striking portion and an opposite end configured for a user to grip, and the second shaft has a first end connected to the striking portion and an opposed second end connected to the main shaft at a location that is closer to the first end of the main shaft than the opposite end of the main shaft. 